Securing an Erasmus+ Accreditation in youth marked a major milestone for Inovatyvi karta. Rather than treating mobilities as one-off projects, accreditation enabled a strategic Erasmus Plan focused on institutional growth, cross-sectoral cooperation, and inclusive non-formal learning. Over the past year, this journey brought together youth workers, educators, and young people across several interconnected initiatives. Project is Funded by the European Union.
Laying the Foundations: Advanced Planning Visit
Quality and safety start before mobilities begin. We launched our cycle with an Advanced Planning Visit alongside partner leaders to align pedagogical aims, review risk management protocols, adapt to inclusion needs, and build mutual trust.
Pragmatic Youth Work: Equipping the Frontlines
The training course Pragmatic Youth Work gathered frontline educators to tackle facilitation, conflict resolution, and group dynamics. Moving beyond theory, participants integrated digital tools like Canva and ChatGPT prompts into youth work workflows. A highlight was the School Jam, where participants entered classrooms at Lentvaris Motiejaus Šimelionio Gymnasium to co-facilitate non-formal workshops for students aged 15–18, concluding with actionable transfer plans (“collecting gems”) to modernize their home youth centers.
Art of Development: Somatic Practice and Well-Being
The training course Art of Development focused on personal presence, emotional regulation, and coaching frameworks to prevent youth worker burnout. Participants explored somatic body awareness, active listening, and stress-regulation techniques in peer groups and school interventions, equipping educators to build supportive spaces for vulnerable youth.
Where Formal and Non-Formal Meets: Study Visit
Breaking boundaries between formal schooling and youth work drove our study visit, Where Formal and Non-Formal Meets. Participants examined working cross-sectoral models across Lithuania:
- Lentvaris Motiejaus Šimelionio Gymnasium: A landmark exchange facilitated by the school’s Student Council for our international delegates.
- Municipal Open Youth Spaces: On-site visits to open youth centers in Trakai, Lentvaris, and Elektrėnai.
- Alternative Pedagogies: An exploratory visit to the nature-based school “Patirčių slėnis.”
These exchanges provided visiting educators with actionable frameworks to initiate similar partnerships in their home regions.
YE with Mentor Digitall: Youth Leading the Way
The youth exchange YE with Mentor Digitall empowered young participants—including first-time travelers, war refugees, and teens facing economic hurdles—through digital media literacy, creative storytelling, and peer mentoring. Daily reflection groups and mentor check-ins supported participants in producing youth-led digital content, achieving major gains in self-confidence, digital literacy, and European belonging.
Rooted in the Community: “Social Partners of the Gymnasium”
As a direct result of the classroom School Jams, study visit dialogues, and continuous cooperation, Inovatyvi karta was officially awarded the honorary title of “Social Partners of the Gymnasium” by Lentvaris Motiejaus Šimelionio Gymnasium. This recognition demonstrates how European mobilities can establish sustainable, institutional ties with public education.
Strategic Reflection and Planning
To consolidate achievements and prepare for upcoming projects, our core team held a full-day strategic review in central Vilnius. The team evaluated workflows, refined monitoring templates, and formalized transparent recruitment standards (including open calls and waiting lists). The session ended with a joint collaborative art activity to build alignment and team cohesion for the next cycle.
Looking Ahead
Our accreditation journey reaffirms that combining European values, structured non-formal learning, and local engagement creates lasting impact. We thank our European partners, facilitators, local schools, municipal centers, and participants. The journey continues into our next cycle of mobilities and community initiatives!
Funded by the European Union.